Hubby did not trust the faint line on the standard variety of test, so I ventured out to Walgreens for the sort which leaves no room for human error.

This is a short list of things I've learned about different things. LOL! And by that I mean learned about myself I guess.

Things I've learned about yaoi; Ever since I have started reviewing yaoi for Otaku USA I have learned a few things about what I like and don't like about yaoi.

1. I really dislike student/teacher pairings. This is because of the horror stories of abusive teachers and there is also this fear in America that if gay people are allowed to teach school they'll turn the kids gay. (WTF?) And I feel like if the right wing crazies ever got their hands on these books it would reinforce their stupid prejudices. These books just creep me out and I've had to review several. I try to be objective I gave "Cause of my Teacher" a decent review, and "Ciao Ciao Bambino" (which in my head I call Ciao Ciao Gambino) also received a so/so review.

2. Shota. This should not need an explaination. It's creepy and wrong... The only author I can tolerate this from is Lily Hoshino because she's soooo damn good. "Ciao Ciao Bambino" has both semi shota and student/teacher pairings so it was doubly icky for me but I realize there are fans of this stuff or it wouldn't be translated.

3. I don't like books that are all short stories. I really like at least single volume lenght or longer work. It's hard to find multi volume yaoi though, at least in English. There are a few but some of the good ones are out of print too. Is Kizuna OoP? If I recall correctly that book was filthy.

4. Filthy books are awesome. It's yaoi. I expect it to be dirty and always feel a little robbed when it isn't yet still has an 18+ rating.

5. I am a Naduki Koujima fan. This was a surprise since the first books of hers I read were ok but I wasn't blown away. But since starting the reviews I have read a bunch more of her work and she has flair. Her characters are funny her writing pretty sharp, and even her mediocre books are more entertaining than most yaoi can aspire to. If nothing else, she's never boring and her art is always solid. It may not be the slickest 'newest' looking art but it always works. Her guys are hot and I can the characters apart. AND yet- even she did a teacher/student book I had to read.

Things I learned about dolls

1. I only buy limited editions. No regular edition of any doll has stayed around for any length of time. They are inevitably sold to buy a LE. This has left me with no dolls to sell to raise money for other dolls so I think I've shot myself in the foot with this one. Yes there are a pile of regular editions I would love to have but all my money is taken up in the pursuit of limiteds.

2. Since getting my Glot I realize 10 inch dolls are ok. They are cute, and light and I love Sooms MD best.

3. There are some YoSDs I would like but don't really care to pursue. The reason I won't pursue them is I think Yo's are horrifically overpriced on the secondary market and all the good Yos are from Japan only events and I rufuse to pay that much. This has it's roots in the 10 in dolls are ok. For the longest time I swore- NO TINIES. Sadly Soom broke me on thisone. Before the smallest I had were the tan Latis at 30cm. The list of Yos I like:
The Four Sisters- they are all the same so it doesn't matter which one.
YoSD Kun
YoSD Kanon- a year or so ago I almost bought one for $500 which would have been cool, but I passed. I regret it a little but I'll live
YoSD Mimi
YoSD Nono

4. I like funky skin tones a lot.

5. Crobidoll is my latest arch nemesis. Their limited sell out the day they go on sale!

6. Dollmore is still my favorite company.

7. I still love, and hate, and love to hate Volks.

8. The horrid Pearl default wig I still have lying around can lightly stain Kurumi's forhead and I won't throw a fit. This was a big surprise and hopefully indicative of some personal growth on my part. I thought she'd look cute as a goth girl so I dressed her in black and put the Pearl wig on her. The cuteness was through the roof so I had her hang out on my desk for a week or two. When I took the wig of there was a faint black stain on her forhead- it's under what would be covered by most wigs but it's on her face-up (Volks blushs from the head cap down) so I can't scrub it off without taking her face-up off.....

Yay, I get the husband at home all day today!

Pro: I like him. Plus, someone to hold the baby while I take a shower!

Con: He drew a happy face on the baby's forehead. *sigh*

MMmmmmhmhmhmhmmm, the house smells like PIE!! *drools*

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! And if you don't celebrate Thanksgiving, I'm sorry, you're missing out on a stellar excuse to eat pie until you explode.

Saturday Night, after loscon masquerade. Room 1726. Westercon 63/Conchord 23 Confirmation Party.

Don Christianitos, the respected legitimate businessman, is hosting a Confirmation Party honoring all the eligible daughters of his friends, relations, and business associates at his palatial New Jersey estate.

Poofy dresses, white dresses, shirt and tie, and school uniforms are all welcome.

Ginsberg Catering (Dana and Shlemiel) understand that a Confirmation Party is like a Bar Mitzvah for Sicilians. Eat, skeleton, eat!

first a little comic relief. jeremiah was playing with daddy's iphone and I discovered he had recorded this little thanksgiving message. I am sure he meant it to be share with the whole internet, so it is published here for your listening pleasure
http://www.jeremiahboyer.com/toolooloo.mp3

Oh and guess what I got for Thanksgiving? News of a failed root canal! "What does this mean?" you ask. It means that my dentist is calling in antibiotics to keep the infection at bay and then Monday I'll be referred out for a repeat root canal in hopes they can save the tooth. But I am thankful because it could be worse. At least I have insurance... and my darling toddler to make me laugh!

Tweaks and enhancements

1. In order to improve site security, we've temporarily suspended the ability to change passwords for old email addresses that haven't been used for over six months. For further information and support, please visit our customer care page.
2. We've launched a new mobile site with an enhanced UI at m.livejournal.com. View spotlights, post to your journal, read and post to friends pages, and more, no matter where you roam! Please let us know what you think, since this will eventually replace our existing mobile interface. You can update your mobile preferences on your account page.
3. We've upgraded from Beacon to Facebook Connect to improve dual posting. If you've already signed up for Facebook Beacon, you're good to go. If you wish to update your Facebook Connect setting, visit Account Privacy settings and scroll down to the option labeled: "Send information about my updates to Facebook." You can choose Always or Ask each time. Remember to save (on the bottom left corner of the page). To learn more, check out FAQ 249. While we're on the subject, if you happen to be visiting that side of town, please join our Facebook fan page for a touch of home away from home.
4. You'll now receive the Writer's Block Question of the Day in the body of email notifications. To sign up for Writer's Block notifications, visit writersblock and choose the Watch Community option. Next, update your Writer's Block notification settings by checking the box to the right of "Someone posts a new entry to writersblock."
5. Paid and permanent users can now view, add, and edit Notes of commenters. Notes will appear beside the username of comment posters (instead of stars) on S1-themed comment pages.

Send some lovin' thanks to your friends with our holiday vgifts!

Photos of the week

We're so delighted with the immense talent of our growing, global lj_photophile community that we've decided to introduce a poll. Each week, we'll choose a half-dozen photos (based on user comments and staff feedback) and ask you to select a photo of the week. The winning photo will be announced in the next newsletter. If possible, please limit photo size to 350x350 to ensure that images display properly on friends pages. We want to thank you again (and again!) for sharing your passion.

Check out this week's photo poll and more fantastic user content after the jump!

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Curtains

Thanks for joining us. To our American friends, have a fantastic Thanksgiving. To all of our international neighbors, we'll eat a little extra for you!

Hey, anyone going to LosCon and want to help out with the anime room?
I have the DVDs and permissions and schedule. We're running noon to 2am Friday, 10am to 2am Saturday, and 10am to 2pm Sunday.

Yumi has a newer engine with under 50,000 miles! From Japan! :)
She seems peppy now.

Postcard winners!

We wish to extend our heartfelt gratitude for sending so much joy our way. Frank is still blushing with excitement over the love notes, proposals, propositions, and occasional intimate photos sent from his admirers around the world (China, Norway, Japan, and Poland just this week)! At his request, we blindfolded Justin, one of Frank's BFFs, spun him around in five dozen counterclockwise circles, and asked him to point to ten random postcards/envelopes pasted to the wall. After a brief trip to the bathroom, he chose the following lucky winners, to whom we will give a six-month paid account token (for paid, basic, and plus users) or, for our permanent account holders, a $15 voucher for the LiveJournal gift shop.

So, without further ado, the winners are:

1. seraphene
2. fotog
3. boykitten
4. seshat_6
5. anti_aol
6. lisalees
7. katrinkacat
8. mistyboston
9. _woody_lein
10. another_slender

Bugs, Tweaks, and Enhancements

1. We fixed a bug from the last release that was causing screened comments to become unscreened if they were edited
2. If you happen to be gaming around the corner, check us out on Facebook and be sure to spread the word!
3. We've added new vgifts to celebrate Thanksgiving! Check out our feathered friend, below!

Give more with charitable vgifts

In honor of national adoption month, we're offering a charitable vgift (priced at $2.99) to support Love Without Boundaries, an organization that provides healthcare and adoption to orphans suffering from life-threatening diseases. LiveJournal will donate 100% of gross proceeds from the sale (we'll cover the cost of credit card transaction fees). To learn more about Love Without Boundaries, please visit lj_cares. You can purchase your Love Without Boundaries vgifts in the Virtual Gift shop. We'll keep you posted on how much we raise!

Photos of the week

We're delighted to showcase yet more incredible photos from some of our brilliant LiveJournal photographers around the world. Keep posting (and tagging). And be sure to show some love by commenting on the awesome view at lj_photophile.

Check out this week's photos and more amazing user content after the jump!

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Curtains

Thanks, again, for joining us. See you next week!

Bad News: I am still sick. *blows nose*

Good News: I just managed to give the kid a bath without him pooping in the water even once. *victory pump*

Yes, my life really is this exciting. You're jealous, aren't you? Don't lie, I know you are.

Anyone know how to reach Shelby Vick? And what to do as far as letting Yahoo.com know that his e-mail account has been hacked? Someone's trying to run the Spanish Prisoner scam, claiming he's stranded in the UK without a phone and needs money. Which is absurd, because there's any number of Brits he'd contact if it were real...

Here's the text of what I received.

Hope you get this on time ? Sorry I didn't inform you about my trip UK for a program and am having some difficulties here because i misplaced my wallet on my way to the hotel where my money and other valuable things were.. presently my passport and my things are been held down by the hotel management pending when i make payment.

I will like you to assist me with a loan of $1,500 Dollars to sort-out my hotel bills and to get myself back home. I will appreciate whatever you can afford to assist me with, I'll Refund the money back to you as soon as i return, let me know if you can be of any help? ASAP.
I don't have a phone where i can be reached.
please let me know immediately